The LIFE project MulkearLIFE (LIFE07NAT/IRL/000342) was recently presented with the Environment Award for 2013 by the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) at a ceremony in Cork. The project, which is being led by the Inland Fisheries Ireland, was honoured for its measures torestore degraded habitats in an area of 650 km2 of the Mulkear River...

What is blue energy?  Blue energy – or ocean energy – covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind (a Communication on offshore wind energy has already been adopted in 2008). Ocean energy can be harvested in many forms:  Wave energy depends on wave height, speed, length,...

The new LIFE Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the official record of EU legislation. The Regulation – which was published on 20 December 2013 – establishes the Environment and Climate Action sub-programmes of the LIFE Programme for the next funding period, 2014–2020. The budget for the period is...

The environmental impacts caused by the generation and treatment of waste are raising serious concerns. As waste generation also represents an inefficient use of valuable resources, prevention and better management of waste is one of the top priorities of the EU’s sustainable development strategy. Although the magnitude of the different waste streams varies across European...

This book offers a comprehensive snapshot of key environmental trends in OECD member countries since the early 1990s. It is organised by issues such as: climate change air pollution biodiversity and water resources waste water wastewater The report reveals big differences in environmental trends in different countries. It confirms that much more needs to be...

The EU Waste Framework Directive provides the legislative framework for the collection, transport, recovery and disposal of waste, and includes a common definition of waste. The directive requires all member states to take the necessary measures to ensure waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health or causing harm to the environment and includes permitting, registration...

Does anybody know of a business in the current economic climate which is not conscious of cost.  Many businesses are unaware of how significantly waste can impact on their bottom line. Whereas, all businesses should always strive to get the best possible contract from their suppliers, they should also be aware of legal liabilities which...

To all our blog followers  The problems relating to the follow button on our blog have been resolved. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. The ECOS blog is on our website and can be found at https://www.ecos.ie/news/ Thanks you for your interest and support over the past few years and we look forward to hearing from you on...

The EU-funded project EUCERTPLAST (‘European certification of plastics recyclers’) has developed a common certification scheme for post-consumer plastics recycling in Europe. Such a scheme helps recyclers and waste collectors, who would be able to guarantee that the plastic waste they collect is actually being recycled (rather than traded) and that this is done in a...

Members of the public throughout Limerick are being encouraged to adopt a Stop Food Waste Resolution to help reduce the estimated €700 worth of food that is thrown away by Irish families each year. The Environment Department of Limerick City & County Council issued the call to coincide with the beginning of European Year against Food Waste....